The Sudan was added to Egypt with very little resistance in 1819, when Mohammed Ali sent his son Ismail up the Nile with a great army. Egypt ruled the Sudan from 1819 to 1883, exploiting its people greatly.

After the bombardment of Alexandria in 1881, when the French fleet sailed away before the action, Britain became to all intents and purposes the paramount power. Britain, with the name of Lord Cromer, created a good government and prosperity for the Egyptians.

At this time came the revolt of the Mahdi. Taking advantage of the situation was an Arab priest, Mohammed Ahmed, who saw himself as the long-awaited "Mahdi", the successor to Mohammed who would unify the Arabic world and conquer the rest. He was aided by his Khalifas, most notibly Abd'allah.
The small band of followers booked incredible victories over the unmotivated Egyptian soldiers, and these victories over the hated "Turks" (the British later would also be called "Turks" here) soon augmented the Mahdi's popularity among the tribes.

Soon, the entire province was in rebellion. Britain viewed with horror being involved in the Sudan and had no other wish than to escape as quickly as possible. They unhesitantly resolved to relinquish the Sudan to barbarism. Still, it was decided to "lend" General Gordon to Egypt (as both countries were in name still independant) to help organize the defense of Khartoum. This he did splendidly, but in spite of all brave defenders, Khartoum was known to fall soon.

The British realizing the danger threatening Gordon sent out a rescue army, the Gordon Relief Expedition, consisting mainly of four regiments of the new Camel Corps. The expedition, however, arrived near Khartoum two days too late. Gordon and nearly all the people who would not desert had been massacred.
The Gordon Relief Expedition returned, and the evacuation of the Sudan was thus complete.

In 1886, Mr Gladstone's Government was overthrown, and nearly twenty years of Conservative rule started. Slowly Britain became interested in recovering the lost territory. The Mahdi had meanwhile died, not fulfilling his promess to conquer the world before his death, and his loyal Khalifa, Abd'allah, became the ruler of the Sudan.

In Egypt meanwhile, the new Egyptian government was doing very well, and the reorganized Egyptian Army soon was a well-trained force. H.H. Kitchener was promoted Sirdar and lead the entire Egyptian Army. Soon, ten years after the sack of Khartoum, he would advance south with the heavy task to recapture the Sudan and to destroy the Mahdi.

This he did, and after two years, in 1898, the armies of the savage Dervish empire were shattered and largely destroyed in the Battle of Omdurman. The Soudan was pacified and became an unbreakable link between Egypt and Britain, because its rule was devided equally between both nations.

SHORT BIOGRAPHY of Kitchener

Horatio Herbert Kitchener, the eldest son of a lieutenant-colonel, was born in 1850, and entered in 1869 the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich as a cadet of the Royal Engineers. After obtaining his commission in the Spring of 1871, he became for ten years an obscure officer, performing his duties with regularity but not giving promise of the talents and character which he was afterwards to displey.

In 1874 accident or instinct led him to seek employment in the surveys that were being made of Cyprus and Palestine, and in the latter country he learned Arabic. This advantage brought him no profit for 6 years, but in 1882 the connection between Britain and Egypt became apparent. Kitchener did not neglect his opportunity. He hurried to the scene of the crisis after securing leave of absense.

Lord Wolseley soon found employment for the active officer who could speak Arabic. Kitchener was made major, and joined the new army that was being formed, as one of the original 26 officers.

In the Nile Expedition of 1885 Arabic again led him to the front, and in the service of the Intelligence Department he found ample opportunity for his daring and energy, and soon was promoted as Governor of Suakin in 1886. This post was always dangerous and full of action, and mostly thanks to his lead an attack by Osman Digna on Suakin was repulsed (occuring at the start of the scenario). Kitchener was wounded in the jaw during this action. Being too undertaking for a post that requires anything but aggressiveness, he was transferred and made Adjudant-General of the Egyptian Army, spending the next four years in an office at the War Office in Cairo.